Charlie Hadens first album as a leader was 1969s Liberation Music Orchestra, and the bassist has been revisiting the project ever since. The concept of the project is to take a big band and record songs devoted to issues of human rights and political liberation, whether expressed in original compositions or revolutionary anthems from Spain, South Africa and Latin America. Not in Our Name is devoted to American music and current political tensions. Once again, it is arranged by pianist Carla Bley, who initially created the bands distinctive sound; an impassioned, often dissonant lyricism combining a village brass band, a frequent Spanish tinge, free jazz and folk music. Propelled by drummer Matt Wilson, the band ranges here from classical themes (Barbers "Adagio for Strings" and Dvoraks "Goin Home") to songs by Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell (his "Throughout" is highlighted by the contrasting tenor saxophones of Chris Cheek and Tony Malaby) to the traditional "Amazing Grace," a feature for Hadens soulful, melodic bass. --Stuart Broomer
Not in Our Name,Charlie Haden,Verve,Jazz,Pop
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The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003FWE Release Date: 1997-01-14 |
Tracks:
- Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
- Let Us Break Bread Together On Our Knees - Various Artists
- His Name So Sweet - Various Artists
- 'Roun' About The Mountain - Various Artists
- Swing Low , Sweet Chariot - Various Artists
- Sit Down, Servant - Various Artists
- Were You There - Various Artists
- He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Various Artists
- Deep River - Various Artists
- Honor! Honor! - Various Artists
- My Soul's Been Anchored In De Lord - Various Artists
- On Ma Journey - Various Artists
- A City Called Heaven - Various Artists
- Ride On, King Jesus - Various Artists
- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Various Artists
- Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass - Various Artists
- Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Various Artists
- There Is A Balm In Gilead - Various Artists
- Let Us Cheer The Weary Traveler - Various Artists
- Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit - Various Artists
- My Way Is Cloudy - Various Artists
- Nobody Knows The Touble I've Seen - Various Artists
- I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray - Various Artists
Tracks:
- Holy, Holy, Holy - Leontyne Price
- Lead, Kindly Light - Leontyne Price
- Blessed Assurance - Leontyne Price
- Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
- What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Leontyne Price
- Amazing Grace - Leontyne Price
- The Lord's Prayer - Leontyne Price
- Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior - Leontyne Price
- The Church's One Foundation - Leontyne Price
- Bless This House - Leontyne Price
- I Need Thee Every Hour - Leontyne Price
- Schlesische Volkslieder: Fairest Lord Jesus - Leontyne Price
- I Wonder As I Wander - Leontyne Price
- Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
- Porgy And Bess: Summertime - Leontyne Price
- America The Beautiful - Leontyne Price
- Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing - Leontyne Price
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - Leontyne Price
- Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Leontyne Price
Customer Reviews:
The Price Club.......2005-04-28
"Ave Maria" sounds heavenly no matter which way you slice it, and as for "I Wonder As I Wander," it brings tears to your eyes. If you have a heart that's beating you will be moved by this rendition. "Ein feste Burg" is pretty strong, but Price seems more comfortable with the traditional spirituals, though perhaps it is the slightly off-kilter sounds of the Ambrosian Singers (what a name) who back her up on many of these tracks, that detract slightly from the experience. Compare "Lead Kindly Light" for a clear sense of what constitutes authority vs. what is a wee bit overproduced. If you had this compilation, and perhaps one of Leontyne Price's Christmas albums, you could attain nirvana any time you wanted to, just flip a switch and close your eyes, let her lift you up on wings of song.
A living legend.......2005-03-10
not your daddy's old timey spiritual.......2004-06-23
Immaculate Vocals of Leontyne Price.......2003-12-31
Great Gospel Stuff.......2001-04-12
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Not in Our Name
Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra Manufacturer: Verve ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000A1CS68 Release Date: 2005-08-30 |
Tracks:
- Not In Our Name
- This Is Not America
- Blue Anthem
- America The Beautiful (Medley): America The Beautiful/Lift Every Voice And Sing/Skies Of America
- Amazing Grace
- Goin' Home (From The Largo Of The New World Symphony)
- Throughout
- Adagio (From Adagio For Strings)
Amazon.com
Charlie Haden's first album as a leader was 1969's Liberation Music Orchestra, and the bassist has been revisiting the project ever since. The concept of the project is to take a big band and record songs devoted to issues of human rights and political liberation, whether expressed in original compositions or revolutionary anthems from Spain, South Africa and Latin America. Not in Our Name is devoted to American music and current political tensions. Once again, it is arranged by pianist Carla Bley, who initially created the band's distinctive sound; an impassioned, often dissonant lyricism combining a village brass band, a frequent Spanish tinge, free jazz and folk music. Propelled by drummer Matt Wilson, the band ranges here from classical themes (Barber's "Adagio for Strings" and Dvorak's "Goin' Home") to songs by Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell (his "Throughout" is highlighted by the contrasting tenor saxophones of Chris Cheek and Tony Malaby) to the traditional "Amazing Grace," a feature for Haden's soulful, melodic bass. --Stuart BroomerCustomer Reviews:
Defies Nomenclature, Or Title.......2006-10-02
No playing around, just good solid Jazz music, with a throw back of 60s protest knitted into to a rhythmic persona that is so pleasing to the Jazz lovers ear. Then Mr. Haden and Company get really deep with "This Is Not America" is in itself a reawakening for most Americans, when one looks behind the music, or reads between the lines.
Next there is some "Homage" paid to Classical Music with their rendition of "Adagio (From Adagio For Strings)" for those somewhat unfamiliar with Jazz, but happen to be lovers of Classical Music, will love this selection, or not.
All in all this CD is some of Mr. Haden's best work, and I hope his productions will just continue to improve, and improve. The universe is the limit, and good Jazz is limitless.
Give "Not In Our Name" a good listen, and see what you feel. This CD has good feelings.
Politics aside, an impressive but flawed album.......2006-07-05
Having said that, the CD suffers from a couple of song choices which are too obvious and are the clear result of a risk that didnt pay off. When choosing to record such songs as 'America the Beautiful', 'Amazing Grace' and 'Adagio for Strings', one must either have something exceptional up one's sleeve, or be prepared to accept the heavy burden of instinctive juxtaposition with the thousands of versions previously recorded. 'Adagio for Strings' is a success, and the latter parts of the 'America the Beautiful' medley also, but 'Amazing Grace' (while containing some worthy moments) and 'America the Beautiful' itself are far too unremarkable for me.
The recording deserves four stars because it offers more than these failed risks. The title track, the Metheny/Mays/Bowie composition 'This is not America' and the Bill Frisell composition 'Throughtout' are exceptional arrangements and performances, with 'Blue Anthem' and 'Goin' Home' following just behind them.
A record worth purchasing if found at a decent price, but I would be surprised if it beat the first LMO album to the top of your favourites.
Not Haden's best work by a long shot........2006-02-04
Charie Haden has always been at his best as part of a small ensemble; consider, for example, his duets with Pat Methany, or his work with Ornette in the 60s, and with Egberto Gismonti and Jan Garbarek in the 1980s. He's also usually at his best when someone else is calling the tunes. As the leader of a large ensemble, though, his music never seems to rise above the mundane.
The music on "Not In Our Name" never seems to rise above the level of merely competant. There's nothing terribly original or terribly exciting, especially given the revolutionary rhetoric accompanying it. As a fan of his since the early Ornette days, I have to say I was pretty disappointed.
Even Better Live.......2005-12-22
Politics Aside.......2005-12-19
Listen to this music. It is truly beautiful, from beginning to end, compelling, and exemplary of what an incredible talent Charlie Haden is, both as a conceptualist and musician.
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Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates Of Penzance
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000420J Release Date: 1993-05-11 |
Tracks:
- Pirates Of Penzance: Overture
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Pour, Oh Pour The Pirate Sherry
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - When Fred'ric Was A Little Lad
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Oh, Better Far to Live and Die
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Climbing Over Rocky Mountain
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Oh, Sisters, Dear To Pity's Name, For Shame!
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Poor Wand'ring One!
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - How Beautifully Blue The Sky
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. I - I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Oh, Dry The Glist'ning Tear
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Then Frederic .. When The Foeman Bares His Steel
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Stay, Fred'ric, Stay!
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - With Cat-Like Tread
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Hush! Hush! Not A Word
- Pirates Of Penzance: Act. II - Sighing Softly To The River ... (Finale)
Customer Reviews:
full description missing.......2006-08-18
Fine Excerpts At An Affordable Price.......2004-02-07
This recording is only highlights from a 1968 recording (also available on Amazon.com) with the D'Oyly Carte Opera, conductor Isidore Godfrey directs the Royal Philharmonic. In the role of Frederick, lyric tenor Phillip Potter, in the role of Mabel, soprano Valerie Masterson, John Reed as Major General Stanley, Donald Adams as The Pirate King,Owen Brannigan as the Sergeant Of Police, and mezzo soprano Christine Palmer as Nurse Ruth. These singers were at their vocal peaks, and they provide much comedic acting as well. Impressive scenes include the mezzo soprano vocals of Christine Palmer's Ruth as she describes how she mistook "Pilot" for "Pirate" when nursing Frederick (When Frederick Was A Little Lad"), Frederick's plea to the daughters of the Major General to accept him as husband (O Is There Not One Maiden Breast) Valerie Masterson, whose Mabel is the best, singing the coloratura showcase "Poor Wondering One" and her duet in "Stay Frederick Stay" John Reed singing "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General" is hilarious and a display of virtuosity for this type of singing. The beautiful chorus "O Dry The Glistening Tear" the upbeat "With Cat Like Tread" and the finale are exceptional.
Excerpts And Highlights From The Pirates Of Penzance.......2004-02-04
The Pirate Of Penzance is a beautiful work of art. The sugary and sentimental story is about the exoneration of pirates, who are noble men who have "gone astray" by such authorities as the Major General,his daughters and the Sergeant of Police. Through the course of the opera, Frederick, who was nursed by Ruth and reared by the Pirate King and his roguish band of pirates. When the daughters of Major General Stanley reject his proposals of love, only Mabel consents to love him. But there's a catch. Frederick is in the hands of the pirates until he comes of age but he was born on a leap year and not until 1940 will he be released. The ending is happy and finds the pirates forgivened by the authorities and Mabel and Frederick are happily married.
The singers really deliver a great performance. In the role of the Major General Stanley is John Reed, who by the time of this recording was a veteran singer in the company. He comes off as fatherly, authoritive but cheerful. An especially skilled type of singer is needed for the master song "I am the Very Model Of A Modern Major General". In contrast, a lyric tenderness is required in the final song "Sighing Softly To The River". As mentioned, a lot of this light opera shines with chorus. The excellent choruses include the opening chorus "Pour The Pirate Sherry", "Oh Dry The Glistening Tear"- this one in particular is set to beautiful music and the daughters of the Major General sound heavenly when they sing in chorus, expressive also in their chorus when Frederick sings "O, Is There Not One Maiden Breast ?". Frederick is sung by Phillip Potter, whose tenor voice is lyric and romantic, and it sounds gorgeous when in duet with Valerie Masterson's Mabel, as in the duet that follows "Stay Frederick Stay". Valerie Masterson was the principal soprano of the company and performed in various other lead roles such as Princess Yum-Yum in The Mikado. A well-schooled lyric and coloratura diva, Valerie Masterson extended her repertoire into Broadway and opera- she has sung Violetta Valery of Verdi's La Traviata (in both Italian and in English versions), Adele in Die Fledermaus and even a part in an English version of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung. Valerie has recordings out in stock and available in Amazon.com.
Pirates Of Penzance Highlights At A Cheap Price !!.......2003-12-27
In The Pirates Of Penzance, Mabel and Frederick are temporarily seperated lovers when Frederick is accused of a crime he did not commit. The plot involves pirates, among them the bass-baritone Pirate King. Light-hearted, bouncy tunes abound in what is considered the direct ancestor to Broadway musicals. The Overture makes use of the chorus "With Cat Like Tread" a march-like, jovial piece of music. The Highlights on this cd include "Pour O Pour The Pirate Sherry", "When Frederick Was A Lad", " Poor Wondering One", "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General" and the uplifting finale. Valerie Masterson plays the role of Mabel. Her voice is fresh, agile, lyric and she has excellent command of coloratura when warranted, as she sings in "Poor Wondering One". This 1968 recording is in its entirety on the same label with the same singers on a different cd recording.
A reasonably good abridgement to this ever-popular G&S opera.......2001-03-08
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Dittersdorf: Arcifanfano, King of Fools
Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003LIK Release Date: 1994-12-12 |
Tracks:
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Overture
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Chorus - We've Traveled Far (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Approach! What Is Your Name, Sir? (Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - With A Sword That Is Sterner Than Moses (Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Unhappy Oddling (Gloriosa)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - My Fair Skin, My Bare Chin (Gloriosa)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Was Ever There Insanity (Sordidone)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - Snugly Hidden Safe From Prying (Sordidone)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Madness Beyond All Measure (Malgoverno)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - When The Purse Is Clinking (Malgoverno)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - There, Like A Vapor (Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - O Look So Woeful (Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Such As She Seems To Be Frigid (Garbata)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - Let's Sing, Let's All Be Jolly (Garbata)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - For All Types Of Confusion
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - The Fierce One Lives Only For The Slaughter
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - I Beg You To Stop (Malgoverna, Gloriosa, Garbata)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - We Praise The Sun For Beauty (Malgoverna)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Bumpkin, Coarse-grained (Gloriosa, Garbata)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - If You Will Love Me, I Will Love You (Garbata)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - No, They Cannot Persuade Me! (Gloriosa)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - Lovely Ladies, You Enjoying (Gloriosa)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Where's My Lover, Sweetheart (Sordidone)
Tracks:
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - Sordidone, Be A Bunny
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Are You Hiding? (Sordidone, Garbata)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - See Comely Phyllis Wander (Garbata, Sordidone)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Don't Come Near Me (Semplicina, Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - The High And Mighty Lion (Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Quiet At Last (Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - Semplicina, Do You Hear Me? (Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Quartet - Ever More Bitter Shall Be My Raging (Gloriosa, Garbata, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - What Now? What New Forms Of Madness? (Gloriosa, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Chorus - Long Live King Arcifanfano (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Earth, Our Dearest, Good And Nearest (Sordidone)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - That His Sowing Yield A Growing (Malgoverno)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What Has The Fool Committed (Malgoverna, Gloriosa)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Ask Of Beauty, She Will Answer (Gloriosa)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Hop And Stop It! (Furibondo, Gloriosa)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - All Of This Planet, I Cry To Each Man (Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What's Unleashed These Dreadful Roars? (Garbata, Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - I'm Simple And I'm Candid (Garbata)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What Mischief And Load This Purse Is!
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Goddess Bright As Morning
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Mother Always Used To Tell Me (Sordidone, Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - What A Lot I Need What I Need Lot's Of! (Sordidone)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - May He Not Come To Harm (Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - There's A Devil In A Ducat (Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Gather, O Subjects, About Us (Gloriosa, Garbata, Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Duet - If You Marry Me (Semplicina)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Chorus - With Curiosity All Aflame (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Quiet, Please, We Implore You!
- Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Chorus - The Wise And The Mad Have Got One Word For Their Dwelling
Customer Reviews:
A Comic-Opera Treasure!.......2007-01-28
an obscure delight!.......2002-07-31
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Carmen (Sung in English)
Bizet , Bardon , Gavin , Plazas , Magee , and Parry Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00007JGRN Release Date: 2003-03-11 |
Tracks:
- Prelude
- In The Plaza
- Just Look At That Delicious Morsel
- Here Come Our New Soldier Boys
- Jose! There Was A Girl Here Looking For You Just Now
- Off With You Old Soldier Boys
- Corporal! Sir!
- We Have Heard The Bell Summon Us To Meet Here
- Ah, Just Look!
- But Why Hasn't She Come, Our Carmencita?
- Love's A Bird Wild As Any Rebel
- Carmen! We Will Follow You High And Low!
- The Cheek Of It!
- Give Me News Of My Mother!
- Your Dear Mother And I Were Leaving Church This Morning
- I See My Mother's Face!
- Wait A Moment - I'm Going To Read The Letter
- Come And Help
- So, Corporal: Tell Me What Happened
- Well, Carmencita: What Do You Have To Say For Yourself?
- Where Are You Taking Me?
- There's An Old Bar In The City
- Careful - It's Lieutenant!
- Entr'acte
- From Far Away Mysterious Sounds
- Bravo, Bravo! More! Keep Dancing!
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- Who's That? It's Escamillo, The Bullfighter From Granada
- Hurrah! Hurrah! The Torero!
- You're Most Kind
- We'll Come With You, Senor Torero
- Toreador, Be Ready!
- At Last! We Got Rid Of Them As Quickly As We Could
- There's A Little Job That We're Starting!
- Being In Love Is Not A Reason
Tracks:
- To Bid You Welcome To Our Bar
- La La La La La La La La...
- Back To Camp!... Go At Once!
- That Flow'r You Threw To Me I Treasured
- No, It's Not Love At All!
- Hello! Carmen!
- Lieutenant Fair, It's True
- The Sky Above The Open Road
- Entr'acte
- Keep Going, Dear Old Friend, Kep Going!
- Right! Let's Stop For A While
- Shuffle! Cut Them!
- In Vain You Would Avoid The Bitter Things They're Saying
- You're Back!
- As For That Man, It Should Be Easy!
- Is This The Place?
- I Say That There's Nothing To Fear
- It's Him! I'm Sure It's Him Over There!
- Escamillo Is My Name, And I Come From Granada
- She Had A Lover Here
- Hola! Hola! Jose!
- You Should Take Care, Carmen
- Alas! Jose, Your Mother Is Ill
- Entr'acte
- A Few Cuartos! A Few Cuartos!
- Here They Come! Here They Come!
- If You Love Me, Carmen
- It's You! It's Me!
- Viva! Viva! What A Corrida!
Customer Reviews:
English is an asset and a drawback.......2004-07-20
Unfortunately, the performance suffers from being sung in English. The singers declaim their parts with such proper British diction that Carmen comes across as a school marm. The spoken dialog is delivered beat for deliberate beat and is dripping with reverb. It makes the plaza, tavern and mountain pass all sound like a sewer pipe.
This is a good first Carmen for someone trying to understand the work. The libretto itself is a good investment for further listening. For an enjoyable performance with an emphasis on character and action, I recommend Regina Resnik on the London Double Decker set.
You Will Love Opera After Hearing Carmen In English.......2004-02-09
The real strength of this version is the dynamic drama. With the advantage of being sung in English, we get better insight on characters' emotions and motives, and we understand the drama a lot better. Carmen is all about great drama. Bizet drew the plot from the French writer Prosper Merimee's dark short story. Carmen is the ultimate femme fatale- a devil-may-care, sexy Gypsy living in Spain, seduces the conservatively raised soldier Don Jose, stealing him away from his fiancee, the passive Micaela, living a life of underground smuggling and rowdy taverns. "Habanera" and "The Gypsy Song and Dance" are very expressive of Carmen's extraordinarily liberal lifestyle. Don Jose, however, has fallen deeply in love- as he shows us in his song/aria "The Flower Song". But Carmen soon becomes tired of his constancy. Don Jose wants a committed, monogamous relationship with Carmen. But Carmen will not submit to love, since she is first and foremost a carnal creature. Eventually, she falls for the handsome Toreador Escamillo. Don Jose, consumed by jealousy, stabs Carmen at a bullfight after Carmen declares her love for Escamillo and rejects Don Jose's love. Don Jose's crazed, obscessive personality shines through in the English version as well. This tragedy has been done in English before so don't think this is the first time. Back in the 50's, there was a film, starring black actors "Carmen Jones" which was treated the same way as this opera- more like an English Broadway musical and with the dubbed singing voice of Marilyn Horne as Carmen. All in all, this recording is excellent.
A wholly credible "Carmen" -- finally!.......2003-09-17
I love Carmen!.......2003-08-15
And what of this recording? Carmen sits well in English, so it is good to hear in translation, although some of the detais in the text jar. Escamillo refers to Jose as "my dear", which sounds rather peculiar, and the guide's line to Micaela: "it's not exactly inviting, is it?" sounds distinctly Middle England rather than Rural Spain. Some of the performers, not least Carmen herself, make the words work, although there are long tracts, especially with the chorus, where the language is distinctly indistinct.
The soloists are, by and large, strong. Patricia Bardon's deep, Handel-friendly voice adapts well to Carmen and she colours the music with phenomenal detail, sounding sexy and provocative from the start with an edge of pride and anger that emerges as the show goes on. She is out of her depth above the stave, though, and some extra top notes in the second act don't show her off to her best advantage. I have previously said that Julian Gavin is poorly served by recordings, though here he sounds much more even and gives a thrilling and musical performance (but his wooden spoken lines let him down). Mary Plazas is a lovely Micaela, rich-voiced and sincere (and word-perfect), but Garry Magee sounds miscast as Escamillo, lacking the ballast at the bottom of the voice to do justice to this tricky role.
The supporting cast is good (Mary Hegarty seems to do nothing but Frasquita these days!) but the really treasurable thing is the conducting. Stepping out of Italian Ottocento, David Parry turns his hand to this French Comedie with an appropriate lightness of touch. His pacing and handling of the set pieces is exemplary and the enrtractes go with a real swing.
A pleasure, then, for the Carmen naive or a novelty for the Carmen-acquainted. I nearly wrote Carmen-weary - but I don't think it's possible.
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Henry Purcell: The Complete Anthems and Services, Vol. 1
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002ZR3 Release Date: 1993-11-19 |
Tracks:
- O Sing Unto The Lord: Symphony
- O Sing Unto The Lord: O Sing Unto The Lord A New Song...
- O Sing Unto The Lord: Sing Unto The Lord And Praise His Name...
- O Sing Unto The Lord: The Lord Is Great And Cannot Worthily Be Praised...
- O Sing Unto The Lord: O Worship The Lord In The Beauty Of Holiness
- O Sing Unto The Lord: Tell It Out Among The Heathen That The Lord Is King
- O Praise God In His Holiness: Symphony
- O Praise God In His Holiness: Praise Him In His Noble Acts...
- O Praise God In His Holiness: Praise Him Upon The Well-Tuned Cymbals
- Praise The Lord, O Jerusalem: Symphony
- Praise The Lord, O Jerusalem
- Praise The Lord, O Jerusalem: Be Thou Exalted, Lord, In Thine Own Strength
- It Is A Good Thing To Give Thanks: Symphony
- It Is A Good Thing To Give Thanks: To Tell Of Thy Loving-Kindness...
- It Is A Good Thing To Give Thanks: O Lord How Glorious Are Thy Works...
- It Is A Good Thing To Give Thanks: For Thou, Lord, Hast Made Me Glad...
- O Give Thanks Unto The Lord: O Give Thanks Unto The Lord...
- O Give Thanks Unto The Lord: Who Can Express The Noble Acts Of The Lord...
- O Give Thanks Unto The Lord: Remember Me, O Lord...
- O Give Thanks Unto The Lord: That I May See The Felicity Of Thy Chosen...
- O Give Thanks Unto The Lord: Blessed Be The Lord God Of Israel...
- Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears: Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears...
- Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears: We Acknowledge, Lord, Our Wickedness
- Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears: Do Not Abhor Us, For Thy Name's Sake...
- My Beloved Spake: Symphony
- My Beloved Spake: For Lo! The Winter Is Past...
- My Beloved Spake: And The Time Of The Singing Of Birds Is Come...
- My Beloved Spake: Symphony
- My Beloved Spake: My Beloved Is Mine And I Am His.
Customer Reviews:
Essential Purcell compositions.......2004-10-07
The performances could not be bettered. The singers, choir and orchestra bring their all to these pieces.
The 11 volumes are expensive but really belong in every classical music lover's collection. Buy as many as you can afford.
The entire set is outstanding.......2003-01-16
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Psalms of David Complete
Choir of St Paul's Cathedral , and Scott Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00006GO6J Release Date: 2002-10-08 |
Amazon.com
This complete 12-disc survey of The Psalms of David from St. Paul's Cathedral is both a remarkable historical record of Anglican chant at its finest and an astonishing musical experience. Contained here are all 150 psalms in their traditional English garb from the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, with revised or entirely new musical settings as published in The New St. Paul's Cathedral Psalter, edited by the choir's musical director John Scott, itself a revision of the 1875 Cathedral Psalter. As such, these recordings represent the very backbone of the Anglican liturgy, but even a casual listener will be in no doubt that they also offer music that is both contemplative and richly varied when removed from its liturgical context.The art of "pointing"--or setting--psalm texts has been essayed by many English composers, from William Croft through the Wesleys and William Boyce in earlier times to the great flowering in the late 19th century under Stainer and Barnby, with further contributions from Parry, Stanford, Elgar, Howells, and a host of choirmasters and organists, including Sir David Willcocks and John Scott himself. All are represented here. Recorded throughout in the vast acoustic of their cathedral, the St. Paul's choristers enunciate the words precisely, backed by inventive though unobtrusive organ accompaniment. Taken individually, it's possible to isolate moments when the choir seem to drag their feet or fail to give due weight to the words (Psalm 125, "They that put their trust in the Lord," seems far too subdued, for example), and the massive Psalm 119 is awkwardly split across discs 10 and 11, but overall this set is nothing less than a document of invaluable cultural and musical significance. --Mark Walker
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant Recordings.......2007-06-11
We found great Spirituality and a wonderful sense of Worship whilst listening to this set. This is often sacrificed for brilliance of musical performance in other recordings.
Unfortunately the "St.Paul's Psalter" is not available (June 2007) but we are told that a new print run may happen within 12 months. This would be a most valuable companion to the recordings when and if it becomes available.
A- for effort.......2006-02-23
The rhythmic pacing, though a little slow for my taste, is steady and sensitive, the diction clear, and the organ accompaniment superb (Providing an expressive accompaniment to a choir singing in 4-part free rhythm, and improvising descants to the melody at the same time, isn't easy). And of course there's the cavernous acoustic of St. Paul's, very impressive in the more thunderous psalms. Unfortunately, though, the "forward" style favored for the St. Paul's boys produces a sound that's unpleasantly chesty in the lower registers and reedy in the higher ones. The poorly integrated choral sound caused by this kind of voice-production can be downright unpleasant for anyone used to, or trained in, the classic English choral style. In fact, one has to wonder why this choir was chosen for such a huge project: even allowing for the near-universal decline in standards of vocal training for boys in England, better sounds than this can still be heard.
What can you say?.......2003-01-03
How much do I like it? I bought it *twice*. I originally bought all the CDs separately, before they came out with a single boxed set. They were stolen from my car (and, God willing, maybe they converted some poor thief to Anglican Cathedral Music and got him into church). After they were stolen, I immediately bought them again.
One of the great pleasures of life is listening to the Morning and Evening Psalms while driving to and from work, and making listening a regular feature of Morning and Evening Prayer.
So what's the criticism? The sound is a bit muddy, so the words can be rather difficult to understand without reading along (which is a real problem when driving), and personally, I prefer the Psalter from the 1979 BCP instead of the old one, from the Great Bible. But that's unreasonable. They ARE a British choir after all. Those are the only criticisms.
Anyhow, if you have a taste for choral cathedral music, this is genuinely indispensible. St. Paul's has given the world a great blessing.
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Psalms For The Soul
Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004VXDB Release Date: 2000-09-26 |
Tracks:
- The Reproaches
- Psalm VIII
- Psalm XXIII
- Psalm CXXII
- They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships
- Psalm LXXXIV
- Psalm CXXX
- The Lamentations Of Jeremiah
- The Lord Is My Shepherd
- Psalm CXXI
- Psalm CXXXI
- Like As The Hart
- Psalm CXLVIII
- Psalm CXLIX
- Psalm CL
Customer Reviews:
A Beautiful Muiscal Rendition of the Psalms.......2004-04-19
This collection contains musical settings of the psalms. Some of the settings are anthems from the Anglican tradition. Other settings are more liturgical stemming from the Benedictine monastic tradition. Some of the settings are contemporary, others traditional. The Choir of St. John's under the direction of Noel Edison and organist Michael Bloss, performs the pieces with both beauty and reverence.
This collection is relaxing. It makes wonderful background music while concentrating and could also be used as in prayerful reflective settings as well.
.
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Thomas Tallis: The Complete Works (Box Set)
Manufacturer: Signum UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0006OR0DA Release Date: 2005-01-25 |
Customer Reviews:
Go To Amazon.com/uk.......2006-02-23
Wonderful Set, but why pay this much?.......2005-07-30
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Hymns Triumphant
Manufacturer: Sparrow Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000E8BI Release Date: 1994-10-07 |
Tracks:
- Immortal Invisible
- Come Thou Almighty King
- This Is My's Father's World
- The God Of Abram Praise
- Holy, Holy, Holy
- Dear Lord, And Father Of Mankind
- Eternal Father, Strong To Save
- Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
- O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
- All Creatures Of Our God And King
- Hark, Ten Thousand Harps And Voices
- Praise To The Lord The Almighty
- What Child Is This?
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- The First Noel
- Silent Night
- O Sacred Head
- Were You There
- When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
- God Of Our Fathers
- We Plow The Fields Together
- Now Thank We All Our God
- For The Beauty Of The Earth
- Amazing Grace
- Jesus, Lover Of My Soul
- Just As I Am
- Blest Be The Tie That Binds
- Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us
- Rock Of Ages
- I Need Thee Every Hour
- Abide With Me
- O God Our Help In Ages Past
- Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
- All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
- Crown Him With Many Crowns
- Fairest Lord Jesus
- Onward Christian Soldiers
- Battle Hymn Of The Republic
- Sevenfold Amen
Customer Reviews:
My Personal Favorite Recording of Classic Hymns.......2007-03-30
A Perfect Mix.......2006-12-14
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